United States Army Staff Sergeant and Syracuse University Student Veteran Organization President, Varun Gollapudi was born and raised in San Jose, California. Varun enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 2017, attending Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he trained as a 68W – Combat Medic. Varun arrived at his first duty station with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in August 2018. He served over four years on active duty in the 10th Mountain Division, serving six months in the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment Battalion Aid Station as an Evacuation Medic before spending two and a half years as an Infantry Platoon Medic in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment. In 2019, Varun completed Air Assault School, and in 2020 he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. Upon returning to Fort Drum from his Afghanistan deployment, he was selected as the Senior Line Medic for his Infantry Company.
In November 2021, Varun was promoted to Sergeant and he re-enlisted into the U.S. Army Reserve to pursue flight medicine. He completed the Combat Paramedic Course (F1) and Critical Care Course (F2), both at Fort Sam Houston, Texas followed by the Air Medical Crew Course (F3) at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Returning to his Reserve unit, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, Varun progressed from Readiness Level 3 to Readiness Level 1, earning his designation as a fully mission-qualified Critical Care Flight Paramedic in December 2023. He went on to fly medical evacuation missions supporting the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.
In November 2025, Varun interviewed for and was selected as Detachment Sergeant for the 691st Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD) based out of Utica, New York, serving as a technical and tactical advisor to the commander of a small, hand-selected surgical team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, operating room technicians, and combat medics. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal with “C” Device for meritorious service during combat operations during Operation Freedom Sentinel, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, the Air Assault Badge, and the Aircrew Badge. While serving as a flight medic, he also worked as a civilian paramedic with Carthage Area Rescue, serving rural populations across Jefferson County. Varun is currently a Biology Pre-Med student at Syracuse University, where he serves as President of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO).
